Ayurvedic Conservative Management in Lower Limb Popliteal Artery Aneurysm with Thrombosis - A Case Report

Abstract

Lower limb popliteal arterial aneurysm is the second commonest peripheral arterial aneurysm in clinical practice. The popliteal artery is defined as aneurysmal when focal dilation in its diameter is more than 50% of the normal vessel diameter. Due to the cause like smoking, atherosclerosis etc arterial wall strength is decreased associated with inflammatory cell infiltration results in aneurysm formation. Later these aneurysms are prone to filling with mural thrombus which can occlude the artery causing popliteal artery aneurysm with thrombosis. A 65-year- old man diagnosed with left popliteal artery aneurysm with complete thrombosis came to OPD, Govt. Ayurveda hospital, Tripunithura, Ernakulam, Kerala, India, presented with rest pain associated with blackish discolouration in his left foot and numbness for 2 years. He had undergone popliteal aneurysm repair with stent graft 1 year back. Even after the repair, he had severe pain. The case was managed with protocol of vatarakta chikitsa including jaloukavacharana, matravasti and silajatu rasayana. The patient had a symptomatic relief in pain, numbness and discolouration of left foot.   Hence this case highlighted that symptomatic relief was achieved through ayurvedic conservative management in popliteal arterial aneurysm with thrombosis showed a symptomatic relief using vatarakta chikitsa including jaloukavacharana, matravasti and silajatu rasayana.